What is copyright?
Copyright law deals with the creation, ownership, sale, and use of creative and expressive works. Copyright laws were created to protect the rights of authors and creators.
You've probably seen the "circled c" © symbol. This means a photograph, article, figure, table, or other work is copyrighted. However, the © symbol is not required in order for a work to be copyright protected.
Creators do not need to apply for copyright. Copyright protections are automatically in place from the moment the work is created.
Obtaining copyright permission is the process of getting consent from the copyright owner to use the owner's materials. Copyright permission is often but not always required. If you use a copyrighted work without the owner's permission, you may be violating the owner's rights and subject to legal action.
Resources:
- RightFind Academic: MD Anderson staff and students should use RightFind Academic to review copyright licenses for educational materials.
- Copyright Clearance Center: To reuse works in your own publication (article or book), you will need to obtain permission from the publisher. A fee is often required along with permission. Use the Copyright Clearance Center to request information from publishers on fees.
- Four Factors of Fair Use: If you are using materials you should always consider the four factors of fair use.
- Copyright in Publishing: Review information on copyright licenses before you choose a journal.
When in doubt, ask a librarian!
